T.I and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle were found to be in possession of a controlled substance during the investigation. They were both taken to the West Hollywood sheriff's station and booked on felony drug possession charges.
]]> Some people in the hip-hop community might be surprised by T.I's arrest, but this is not the Atlanta-based rapper's first run-in with the law. In 2009, the man was sentenced to a year behind bars for a federal weapons charge and was put on probation until 2013 over the incident. Some attorneys are saying that T.I. violated the terms of his probation with his most recent arrest.The simplest traffic violations can often lead to an arrest for driving under the influence or drug possession. This is because an officer can interrogate you or search your car if he or she suspects criminal activity. The smell of marijuana can be a reason for an officer to suspect criminal activity. More information about the laws of vehicle searches can be found through our Related Resources pages.
Related Resources:
Aretha Wilson is reportedly scheduled to next appear in court on September 9. Photos of Leonardo DiCaprio after the 2005 incident were not revealed to the public, but the actor reportedly received 18 stitches in his neck and left ear after the attack. Perhaps the star of Inception could file civil charges against the woman as well. He has already received a restraining order from the alleged attacker, where Aretha Wilson has been ordered to stay at least 500 yards from the Leonardo DiCaprio. She also cannot have any other form of contact with him.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Edmund Willcox Clarke Jr. only recently found that there was sufficient evidence for the suspect to stand trial. If convicted of the assault with a deadly weapon charge, Aretha Wilson faces up to seven years in prison.
Related Resources:
Make sure that you do not sell a knife, blade, or any other stabbing weapon to anyone under the age of 18, if you want to avoid the possibility of developing a criminal record.
That's right, it is actually illegal to sell knives and daggers to a minor in Los Angeles. The law went into effect in 1993, when it was unanimously passed by the Los Angeles City Council and signed by Richard Riordan, who was the city mayor at the time. The Los Angeles Times reported that the city council passed the law in hopes of reducing injuries and deaths amongst youngsters.
]]> According to Chapter 13.58 of Title 13 municipal code, a person who sells knives to a minor can be charged with a misdemeanor, and can be punished with a fine up to $500 and be imprisoned in the County Jail for up to six months.There are of course exceptions to the law, and because many in Los Angeles are unaware that such a law exists, a criminal attorney in Los Angeles can help with a good defense. A criminal defense attorney would be able a person accused of such a law identify exceptions to the law. For example, it's legal to sell knives to an individual under the age of 18, if the minor is accompanied by an adult. The sale can also be legal if the merchant keeps a record of the name and address of the purchaser.
Related Resources:
Apparently, the victim in the incident had cuts and bruises on her body when police arrived at the Venice Beach apartment. Victims of domestic violence might feel frightened or scared after an attack, but there are plenty of places where such victims can go for help. According to FindLaw, law enforcers generally take domestic violence situations very seriously and officers are receiving increased training on dealing with domestic violence. So, calling 911 might be a good start to getting away from a domestic dispute.
An increasing number of hospitals, crisis intervention programs, and social service agencies have programs to help victims of domestic violence in the Los Angeles area. More information on such services can be found through the L.A County Domestic Violence Council at http://dvcouncil.lacounty.gov/.
Related Resources:
According to the Los Angeles Times, a federal judge overturned the murder conviction 24 years later in 2004, after the credibility of the informant's testimony was called into question. It turns out that lawyers representing Thomas Goldstein claimed that the informant was promised leniency in a grand theft conviction if he testified against Thomas Goldstein.
]]> It's a good thing that Thomas Goldstein had Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys that were committed to appealing his conviction, even after years of time already spent in prison. And don't worry, Thomas Goldstein isn't walking away with nothing in his wrongful conviction case.The man reached a $7.95 million settlement from the City of Long Beach after suing the city's police for withholding evidence in his 1980 murder trial. The lawsuit also alleged that Los Angeles County officials regularly used the testimony of jailhouse informants without ensuring they were telling the truth.
"The information the authorities suppressed would have led to his acquittal," Thomas Goldstein's attorney told the Los Angeles Times. "Their conduct resulted in Tom spending 24 years in prison, years he can never recover."
This nearly $8 million settlement is the largest pretrial settlement ever in California for a wrongful conviction case, and marks one of the largest wrongful conviction settlements in all of U.S. history.
Related Resources:
After an arrest, a person may have to wait months before their case goes to trial. But our criminal justice system allows defendants to be free from jail until they are proven guilty. After all, the Eighth Amendment of our Constitution states that ''No cruel and unusual punishment is to be inflicted." Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys say that this includes imprisoning an innocent person.
]]> However, if all people accused of a crime were able to go free, officials might worry that the accused might flee the area and not even show up in court for their hearing. Hence, that's why there's a bail system in place. The defendant is able to get out of jail by posting a certain amount of money (bail). According to FindLaw, this amount of money is determined by a judge and is based on a number of factors that include the severity of the crime, the criminal record of the accused, and the financial resources of the person accused of the crime.If the accused is able to post the entire bail amount, then the court will refund all the money that is paid as long as the defendant shows up for his or her court date, no matter what the verdict is in the case. If the defendant does not show up for a court hearing, then he or she forfeits bail and a warrant of arrest can be issued. If the accused cannot afford the set bail amount, he or she usually has the option of turning to a bail bondsman for the money. In this scenario, the bail bond becomes a three-party contract between the accused, the court, and the surety. Under the terms of the contract, a bail bondsman promises to pay the full bail amount for the accused in exchange for a fee (usually 10 percent of the bail amount). This fee is usually non-refundable and if the accused fails to appear in court on their specified date, then it is the bondsman that is required to pay the full amount of money.
Related Resources:
Criminal complaints say that the salon owner has a criminal record that includes an arrest for shoplifting and writing checks with insufficient funds. The woman has also reportedly used 20 variations of her name, but all with the same social security number. She may already have as many as seven judgments against her and her property.
Maria Gabriella Perez has denied stealing from her clients and already has a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer to represent her in the fraud case. Her attorney Jerod Gunsberg told ABC News, "This is a legitimate business, and we fully expect that once all the facts come out that she will be exonerated of all the charges, and she is innocent."
Related Resources:
The Los Angeles Times reports that poker player Mesbah Khaffaji was arrested Sunday night after he allegedly spit food in a card dealer's face during a no-limit Texas hold'em game at a Bell Gardens Casino. Police suspect that the man became angry after losing a hand.
]]> Security guards at the Bicycle Casino quickly detained Mesbah Khaffaji after the alleged incident until police arrived at the location. The man was then arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, but released from police custody on $20,000 bail. Sgt. Brendan Kirkpatrick of the Bell Gardens Police Department stated that these types of situations aren't all that uncommon and that angry gamblers will sometimes feel the need to take out their frustrations on a dealer."Is it often? No. Does it happen? Yes," Brendan Kirkpatrick told the Los Angeles Times. "People get heated. Large sums of money lost; people can't control their emotions."
Even the slightest touch to another person can trigger a battery allegation in California, as long as the touch was committed in an angry or offensive manner. Yet people charged with assault or battery crimes always have the right to contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to ensure that their legal rights are protected during court proceedings. For listings of local attorneys, see FindLaw's directory.
Related Resources:
The Assembly member has proposed a new law, Assembly Bill 451, which would make the act of party crashing a misdemeanor crime that would be punishable with up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. The law would simply expand California's definition of trespassing so that unauthorized entry to exclusive events can be clarified, giving law enforcers guidelines on how to handle such a situation.
]]> But would AB 451 dissuade party crashers or would a new law encourage party crashing by rebellion? Alex Mamlet, a party crasher on the VH1 show "Kid Protocol: Party Crashing in Cannes," believes the latter is more likely to occur."In Hollywood, it's pretty clear that people are willing to bite the bullet for fame," he told the Los Angeles Times. "There's no better way to get attention and press than being the first one punished when this bill goes into effect. So it might do exactly the opposite of what the writer of the bill intended. This bill might end up backfiring."
Many Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys may also worry that the passage of AB 451 would allow event organizers to kick people out that they don't like and have those people prosecuted. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate later this month.
Related Resources:
Anybody accused of getting food without paying always has the right to be represented by a Los Angles criminal defense attorney. Yet Mitrice Richardson never got herself a lawyer and after her arrest, she mysteriously went missing.
]]> This is what has sparked a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The 24-year-old women was released from the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff's Station in the dark without her car, cellphone, or purse. Her family not only questioned the department's procedures for releasing people at night, but also stated that Mitrice Richardson should have been held for a mental health evaluation after customers at the restaurant reported that she had been acting strangely.The woman had been missing for almost a year, before the skeletal remains of her body were found on Monday in Malibu Canyon. The father of the victim has heavily criticized the County Sheriff's Department for mishandling his daughter's case from beginning to end. Him and Mitrice Richardson's mother have each filed separate lawsuits against the Sheriff's Department alleging negligence.
"This book is not closed," Michael Richardson told the Los Angeles Times. "More chapters need to be written. We are going to hold people accountable.... I will continue to fight for her."
Related Resources:
Clarence Butterfield has been accused of murdering his 21-year-old daughter and stuffing her in the freezer of his motor home, which has led to his indictment on count of murder during torture and mayhem and one count of assault with a firearm.
But perhaps this murder case is all just one big misunderstanding. KTLA News reports that opening arguments in the case began this week, where defense attorney Lisa Eyanson says that the man loved his daughter and kept the girl's body in the freezer for two years because he couldn't bear to part with her. The attorney argued that Clarence Butterfield, of San Clemente, thought that he could revive his daughter by putting her in the freezer since the Bible reportedly says that a person can be resurrected with faith.
]]>Prosecutors, on the other hand, say that the father shot his daughter and then stuffed the body in the freezer while she was still alive, which led to her suffocating. According to KTLA News, authorities say that the man has had a history of domestic violence and has drifted between Orange County, Riverside County, and Las Vegas over the past several years. Authorities, however, have not yet released a motive for the killing of the daughter.
When it comes to a charge that's as severe as murder in L.A, it's important for the defendant to have a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer so that all the evidence in a case can be properly examined and so all the legal rights of the defendant can be protected. More information about murder crimes can be found through our Related Resource pages.
Related Resources:
KTLA News reports that the new lawyer is Louisa Pensanti has had experience handling multiple murder cases and has agreed to work pro bono on the Grim Sleeper case. As we reported in an earlier blog post, Lonnie Franklin's arraignment has been postponed until August 23. The man has been charged with 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
]]> If convicted of the murder charges, the Grim Sleeper can face the death penalty. Because of the severity of murder cases, it's always important to have a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney help the defendant by ensuring that his or her rights are legally protected.The Grim Sleeper suspect in this case has been held without bail since he was arrested on July 7 in his South Los Angeles home. The man's arrest came after DNA evidence linked him to the 10 murders. Investigators say they're trying to tie the suspect, who used to work as an auto mechanic for the Los Angeles Police Department, to dozens more murders in the Los Angeles area.
Lonnie Franklin's murder came as a shock to some people in the South Los Angeles community because neighbors of the suspect said that they knew the man as friendly and quiet guy. With a new attorney by his side, we'll be able to see how the Lonnie Franklin plans on defending himself.
Related Resources:
Her various treatments raise the question: Will Lindsay ever be clean from drugs? Her most recent court order to spend 90 days in rehab at the UCLA Hospital-affiliated facility stems from the actress violating her probation from her second DUI conviction. Last month, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel sentenced the actress to 90 days in jail along with the 90 days of rehab.
Many Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, including Lindsay Lohan's lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley, say that the judge gave the actress a very tough sentence. In a statement the lawyer said that her client's sentence was "harsh and unfair."
When it comes to drug crimes, a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer will often ask that a client enter rehab instead of going to jail. This is best for the defendants because they get a chance to attempt to come clean and aren't as limited as they would be in a jail cell.
Related Resources:
Many people may not realize that such a lie can be considered a felony offense. According to KTLA News, Richard Alarcon was charged with 18 felony counts, which include perjury and voter fraud. The councilman's wife has also been charged with three counts of perjury and three counts of voter fraud.
]]> Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys representing the councilman insist that Richard Alarcon lives at 14451 Nordhoff Street in Panorama City and that him and his wife are innocent. They both pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges earlier this week. However, neighbors say that they have not seen the couple at the house in years.There seems to be a bit of a mystery surrounding the councilman's residence, but this legal mess will all have to be cleared up in court. Richard Alarcon says that he does not plan to resign from the Los Angeles City Council. If he's innocent, why should he? With fraud case, it's a good idea to let Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys come up with the best defense strategy in the courtroom. Defense lawyers will also make sure that the defendant's legal rights are protected in a case and that his or her side of the story is heard.
Related Resources:
Peter Felix had a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney help him in the criminal case. At the sentencing, attorney Spencer R. Vodnoy said that his client cooperated with investigators during the case and that Peter Felix deeply regretted his actions.
Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys typically try to argue for the lowest possible sentence on behalf of their clients. In California, a possession of a controlled substance for sale conviction can lead to a prison sentence up to four years for each count, according to California Health and Safety Code Section 11351. More information about drug crimes in California can be found through our Related Resources pages.
Related Resources: